An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Holfter
Holfter, Hulfter (rarely Halfter), feminine, ‘holster,’ in which sense it is Modern High German only; Middle High German hulfter, ‘quiver,’ a derivative of hulft, ‘sheath, covering, case’ (Old High German huluft). These cognates are often wrongly connected with Gothic hulistr, neuter, ‘sheath, covering,’ which is said to be supported by the Middle High German variant huls, ‘sheath, covering,’ Dutch holster and its equivalent English holster. By such an assumption the f of the Old High German, Middle High German, and Modern High German form still remains obscure. It is more probably allied to forms with f, such as Gothic hwilftrjôs, ‘coffin.’ It is possible, of course, that there has been a confusion with the words from the stem hul (Gothic hulistr, ‘sheath, covering’).